Software Developer – Backend (AI-Powered CAD Startup)

Advatix Inc.; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Unlimited/flexible time off

Catered team lunch

Job summary

Advatix Inc. in San Mateo, CA seeks a Software Developer specializing in backend systems for AI-powered CAD. The role requires strong skills in Python, Flask, and Django to build scalable services that integrate machine-learning models. Ideal candidates should possess a PhD or equivalent research experience with numerous publications.

This is a full-time position offering competitive pay, health benefits, and ample opportunities for growth within a high-ownership startup environment.

Qualifications

• Experience building backend services and APIs with Flask or Django.
• Published research at top venues (7+ peer-reviewed publications).
• Hands-on edge deployment experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain backend services in Python.
• Develop APIs for AI-driven CAD workflows.
• Collaborate with founders to ship new product features.
• Implement and integrate machine-learning models into production.

Skills

Strong Python

Flask

Django

SQL

Cloud Infrastructure (AWS/GCP)

Custom PyTorch implementations

Education

PhD in ML or equivalent

Job description

Software Developer – Backend (AI-Powered CAD Startup)

Location: San Mateo, CA, United States

Department: Software / SaaS Industry, Type: Full Time

Pay: $110,000 - $170,000/Year

Schedule: Full time, Permanent Role

About Advatix

Advatix is a technology-driven organization focused on building innovative solutions that empower businesses through scalable systems, operational excellence, and exceptional user experiences. We are committed to creating high-performing teams that thrive in fast-paced environments and deliver meaningful impact through technology and product innovation.

Job Overview

This backend engineering role requires a rare blend of production-grade software development and deep academic research expertise. You will own the core platform end-to-end, designing and maintaining scalable backend services in Python while developing the APIs that power sophisticated AI-driven CAD workflows. Your daily work involves building robust systems using Flask or Django, optimizing SQL schemas, and deploying production services within cloud infrastructure. Beyond standard backend tasks, you will be responsible for implementing and integrating custom machine-learning models into production features, translating complex research into reliable, high-performance software.

The ideal candidate possesses significant research depth, typically evidenced by a PhD from a top tier program or a substantial body of novel systems work, including at least seven peer-reviewed publications at venues such as NeurIPS, ICCV, or ICML. You must be capable of writing custom PyTorch implementations of novel modules rather than relying on existing wrappers. This position is designed for a product-minded builder who thrives in a flat, high-caliber founding team and prefers hands-on technical ownership over managerial titles.

You will participate in the full development lifecycle, from early technical design through launch, ensuring that every feature is fast, reliable, and capable of handling the rigorous demands of hardware engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain robust, scalable backend services in Python.
• Develop APIs and backend components that power AI-driven CAD workflows and improve overall system performance.
• Collaborate with founders and cross-functional partners to define, design, and ship new product features.
• Participate in code reviews, testing, and debugging to ensure high-quality, reliable software.
• Implement and integrate machine-learning models and algorithms into production features.
• Diagnose and resolve production issues; improve observability and reliability over time.
• Contribute across the full development lifecycle, from early technical design through launch and iteration.
• Stay current on relevant backend, cloud, and ML tooling and bring practical, modern solutions to the team.

Qualifications

Strong Python and modern software engineering practices (testing, code review, version control).

Experience building backend services and APIs with Flask, Django, or similar.

Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases – able to design, query, and optimize schemas.

Comfortable with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or similar) and deploying production services.

Track record of taking research or prototype code into reliable, production-grade systems.

Research depth (required) – PhD from a top ML or systems program (Michigan, CMU, Stanford, MIT, Berkeley, Georgia Tech, UIUC, or equivalent), or an equivalent body of novel systems work.

Published research at top venues (NeurIPS, ICCV, ICML, IEEE) – 7+ peer-reviewed publications is the benchmark.

Custom PyTorch implementations of novel modules – not wrappers around existing libraries.

Hands-on edge deployment experience.

Work Authorization

US citizen or existing work authorization that does not require future sponsorship. Candidates on OPT/F1 will not be considered.

Will Not Be Considered

• Strong LLM-API integrators with no novel ML work.
• Startup CTOs whose primary signal is the title.
• Candidates without published research or equivalent evidence of novel systems work.

Ideal Candidate

Product-minded builder who loves turning ideas into reliable, maintainable code, fluent in Python, comfortable with backend frameworks like Flask or Django, and cares about performance, correctness, and clean abstractions. Curious about how ML can power better tools, excited to work closely with founders and customers to ship the right thing, and enjoys small teams with high ownership.

Must-Have Requirements

• Based in the US with existing work authorization; US citizen/visa only, able to work on-site in San Mateo, CA.
• Hands-on experience with SQL and relational databases in a production or serious project setting.
• Strong proficiency in Python and experience building backend services with Flask or Django.
• Published peer-reviewed research (NeurIPS, ICCV, ICML, IEEE, or equivalent) or demonstrated body of novel ML systems work.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Competitive salary and meaningful equity options.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Catered team lunch in the San Mateo office.
• Unlimited/flexible time off.
• High-ownership role on a small, senior founding team (YC-backed).
• Opportunities for rapid growth and learning building AI-powered CAD.

We are an EEOC Employer.